Rapid battery charging method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for charging a battery having a capacity C Ampere hours, the method comprising:
- a) for a charging period having a duration in the range of about 60 seconds to about 180 seconds, passing an electric current having a magnitude of 0.55×
C Amperes to 0.65×
C Amperes through the battery;
b) for a discharging period having a duration in the range of about 10 seconds to about 20 seconds allowing the battery to discharge a current having a magnitude in the range of about 0.05×
C Amperes to about 0.07×
C Amperes through a load; and
, c) repeating (a) and (b) in alternating sequence until the battery is charged.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for battery charging provide a charging cycle in which charging periods alternate with discharging periods. During the charging periods a lead acid battery is charged at a rate of about 0.55×C amperes to about 0.65×C amperes, where C is the battery capacity in ampere hours. The charging periods have durations of about 60 to 180 seconds. During the discharging periods the battery is discharged at a rate in the range of about 0.05×C to about 0.07×C. The discharge periods have durations of about 10 to 20 seconds. By introducing discharging periods while charging the battery, the battery'"'"'s internal resistance is deceased and less heat is generated during charging. The charging time is about 1-2.5 hours for lead-acid batteries.
35 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method for charging a battery having a capacity C Ampere hours, the method comprising:
-
a) for a charging period having a duration in the range of about 60 seconds to about 180 seconds, passing an electric current having a magnitude of 0.55×
C Amperes to 0.65×
C Amperes through the battery;
b) for a discharging period having a duration in the range of about 10 seconds to about 20 seconds allowing the battery to discharge a current having a magnitude in the range of about 0.05×
C Amperes to about 0.07×
C Amperes through a load; and
,c) repeating (a) and (b) in alternating sequence until the battery is charged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A battery charger for charging a battery having a capacity C Ampere hours, the battery charger comprising:
-
a) a power supply;
b) a load;
c) an electrically controllable switching circuit configured to connect either the power supply or the load between the terminals of a battery under charge;
d) a control circuit comprising a timer, the control circuit configured to, during a charging cycle, operate the electrically controllable switching circuit to, in alternation, connect the power supply between the terminals of a battery under charge for a charging period having a duration of about 60 seconds to about 180 seconds, and connect the load between the terminals of the battery under charge for a discharging period having a duration in the range of about 10 seconds to about 20 seconds;
wherein, the load has an impedance such that, during the discharge period, the battery discharges at a rate in the range of about 0.05×
C Amperes to about 0.07×
C Amperes.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification